Published: Friday, February 22, 2013 at 5:24 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, February 22, 2013 at 5:24 p.m.

A group of Spartanburg Day School students and staff will travel to Cuba this weekend, where they will spend a week soaking in the sights, sounds and culture of a place once off-limits to American visitors.

Twenty Upper School students, along with three faculty members, are set to arrive in Havana on Sunday.

The trip was among the options for the school's Special Studies week, which once a year allows students opportunities to pursue academic interests beyond the traditional classroom.

“Travel is such an awesome way to educate, so I'm always ready to take kids anywhere. Cuba seemed very interesting,” said Nancy Corbin, an art teacher at the Day School who will travel with the group. “I think they're going to learn more about their own culture by experiencing another culture, because I think when you experience one culture, you learn about both.”

The trip was largely organized through a company that provides “people-to-people” travel to Cuba for U.S. citizens and requires a license issued by the Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Day School students will have several opportunities to interact with Cuban students, visit with local artists and learn about music and dance.

For senior Rose Cochran, 18, the trip is an opportunity to explore her roots. Cochran's grandmother is from Cuba.

“I want to get a better idea of what it was like to live in a socialist country,” she said, adding that she hopes to practice her Spanish and immerse herself in the culture.

Freshman Will Webster, 14, visited Cuba with his family a few months ago, and he is looking forward to returning to the country with friends.

Senior Walker Tiller, 18, hopes to experience some of what he's learned in his comparative government class.

“It's one of the last remaining communist countries, and so that's going to be quite an experience,” Tiller said. “I'm also excited about meeting the locals and learning their way of life.”

The group will distribute children's books, T-shirts, soccer balls, school and art supplies, and multivitamins as they travel from place to place.

<p>A group of Spartanburg Day School students and staff will travel to Cuba this weekend, where they will spend a week soaking in the sights, sounds and culture of a place once off-limits to American visitors.</p><p>Twenty Upper School students, along with three faculty members, are set to arrive in Havana on Sunday.</p><p>The trip was among the options for the school's Special Studies week, which once a year allows students opportunities to pursue academic interests beyond the traditional classroom.</p><p>“Travel is such an awesome way to educate, so I'm always ready to take kids anywhere. Cuba seemed very interesting,” said Nancy Corbin, an art teacher at the Day School who will travel with the group. “I think they're going to learn more about their own culture by experiencing another culture, because I think when you experience one culture, you learn about both.”</p><p>The trip was largely organized through a company that provides “people-to-people” travel to Cuba for U.S. citizens and requires a license issued by the Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.</p><p>Day School students will have several opportunities to interact with Cuban students, visit with local artists and learn about music and dance.</p><p>For senior Rose Cochran, 18, the trip is an opportunity to explore her roots. Cochran's grandmother is from Cuba.</p><p>“I want to get a better idea of what it was like to live in a socialist country,” she said, adding that she hopes to practice her Spanish and immerse herself in the culture.</p><p>Freshman Will Webster, 14, visited Cuba with his family a few months ago, and he is looking forward to returning to the country with friends. </p><p>Senior Walker Tiller, 18, hopes to experience some of what he's learned in his comparative government class.</p><p>“It's one of the last remaining communist countries, and so that's going to be quite an experience,” Tiller said. “I'm also excited about meeting the locals and learning their way of life.”</p><p>The group will distribute children's books, T-shirts, soccer balls, school and art supplies, and multivitamins as they travel from place to place.</p><p>The group is scheduled to return home on Friday.</p>